I forgot to mention that: for really good information on Wisconsin folk music, you can pick the consolidated brains of Art Thieme and Jerry Rasmussen. Art has told me some terrific stories.

For German stuff, there's a CD called Ach Ya!: Traditional German-American Music from Wisconsin, a reissue of a recording from the Wisconsin Folklife Center. I have it around here somewhere, but can't find it just now. More info here (click). National Public Radio has a story about German in Wisconsin here (click).

There are some Wisconsin recordings here (click). I may have to get that "Down Home Daryland" CD set - you can hear samples here (click).

Oh, and Click here and be prepared to be absolutely amazed at the amount of folk music collecting that has gone on in Wisconsin.

-Joe-